Get in Touch

A Wild Encounter at The Grove: A Visit from Zoolab

A visit from zoolab

The Grove Residential Home in Winterbourne, Bristol recently hosted a captivating visit from Zoolab, bringing a menagerie of exotic creatures to our residents. From a curious rat to a mesmerising millipede, the animals captivated our residents with their unique characteristics and behaviors.

A Close Encounter

One of the highlights of the visit was the opportunity for residents to handle a snake. Jeanie’s expression of curiosity and wonder as she held the snake was truly heartwarming. This hands-on experience provided a unique opportunity for our residents to connect with nature and overcome any fears or misconceptions they may have had about reptiles.

The Therapeutic Benefits of Animal Interaction

Animal therapy has been shown to have numerous benefits for older adults, including:

 

Reduced stress and anxiety: Interacting with animals can lower stress hormones and promote relaxation.

 

Improved mood: Spending time with animals can boost mood and increase feelings of happiness and contentment.

 

Enhanced social interaction: Animal-assisted therapy can facilitate social interaction and communication among residents.

 
Increased cognitive stimulation: Caring for animals can stimulate cognitive function and memory.

Considering Care for a Loved One?

The Grove offers specialised residential dementia care, providing a warm and supportive environment for our residents. Our commitment to providing enriching experiences, such as animal therapy, is just one of the many ways we strive to enhance the lives of our residents.

 

Contact us today to learn more about our care philosophy and how we can support your loved one.

Catherine
Sales Manager

Catherine has worked in sales and marketing her whole career, after graduating with a degree in Textile Management she worked in Corporate Workwear for many years. Catherine’s first role in the care sector was working with a disability charity that ran nursing homes and enablement projects for young adults.

Catherine

While her two children were younger, she joined her husband in his estate agency, but was delighted to return to the care sector in 2020 and now cannot imagine doing anything else.

Catherine’s role with Allegra is to support residents and their families as they explore care options. Working with the teams in the individual homes she ensures that during every stage from initial enquiry through to moving in with us every question is answered, and we offer the reassurance needed for the next chapter in our resident’s life. It is important for our residents to remain part of the community in which will have lived for years, often all their lives, so the other part of this role is connecting with local community groups, charities and organisations.

Catherine has said that working for Allegra with their groundbreaking household model means we are offering a home with compassion and care whilst ensuring residents are retaining their independence and quality of life.

Out of work Catherine enjoys baking and gardening The children are older now, but still keep her busy!

Paul Thomas
Regional Manager - Western Region

Paul has joined Allegra Care with 28 years’ experience in the health and social care sector including working in senior leadership roles for the last 18 years; covering operations, business management and quality assurance. Paul has a real passion for person centred care and how that is delivered at the highest level.

Allegra Team Paul Thomas

Paul has worked across a diverse sector over his time in health and social care and brings a wealth of experience to his new role as Regional Manager. Paul believes in integrating real and meaningful values and culture into a service and in doing so, delivering the outcomes for the people we support. Paul goes by the theory of values with no meaning, have no value.

Outside of work, Paul is the father of three boys and a 2nd degree black belt who teaches Judo.